Confirmation 2017

Confirmation

Are you interested in receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation?

Please read the following before registering to begin the process.

What is Confirmation?

Confirmation, along with Baptism and Eucharist, is a Sacrament of Initiation. It seals (confirms) the vows of Baptism. Like Baptism, it can be received only once. Eucharist is the ongoing living out of the faith commitment made in Baptism and Confirmation.

Confirmation is a sacrament of spiritual growth that enables a person to stand before the world as a witness to the power of the Holy Spirit. The person being confirmed is committed to Christ and is ready to be a responsible worker in the Christian community.

How do I begin preparing to receive Confirmation?

There are a few thing that need to be taken care of in order for you to begin the Confirmation process:

Are you registered in St. John Vianney Parish?

Are you a Baptized Catholic?

Are you entering your junior year of High School (or older)?

Are you active in St. John Vianney Parish?

Are you involved in our parish Youth Ministry program ?

If you have not been Baptized, you are invited to be a part of our parish Christian Initiation process. If you have not been active in our parish and involved in the Youth Ministry program, you need to begin participating in the Youth Ministry Program for at least a year before beginning the Confirmation process. Please call the Debbie Mellin in the Pastoral Office at 939-7911 x103 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

What happened? I thought every 8th grader received Confirmation?

In 1980, the Diocese of Oakland announced new guidelines concerning the Sacrament of Confirmation. These new guidelines required the Confirmation age be changed from junior high to high school or above (age 16 or older) and that it become a parish program rather than a Religious Education or Catholic school program. The intent was that Confirmation should be a personal decision of faith, rather than every 8th grader making Confirmation simply because they are in 8th grade.

How do I know if I am ready to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation?

Not all 16-year olds are ready to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation any more than all 18-year olds are ready to receive the Sacrament of Marriage. The issue is the faith of the individual, which is something only you and God can judge. Faith is not something that happens to all people at the same time or in the same way. Confirmation is accepting the faith for yourself that your parents and godparents accepted for you at Baptism. You may be ready to do this at 16 or 18 or 25 or ....

Some Questions to ask yourself -

Am I ready to accept this faith for myself?

Do I want to be a Catholic?

Do I choose the Catholic Church as my own and not just as my parent's church?

If you are unsure about taking this step, but are willing to spend some time learning about you faith and met all the requirements, you are encouraged to register for our Confirmation Preparation process. If at some stage of the preparation, you decide it is not for you or you are not ready just yet, that's fine. You can come back the following year or in the future.

What is the Confirmation Preparation Program at St. John Vianney?

Here's what you need to do:

Be actively Enrolled In Youth Ministry and involved in a service ministry.

Participate in a Personal Interview scheduled in August or September.

Bring a copy of baptismal certificate

Show evidence of parish involvement

Attend preparation classes from October through May.

Select a Sponsor.

You will need to choose a sponsor by the end of September, as they should be able to attend our meetings.

A sponsor needs to a fully initiated Catholic whom you feel comfortable sharing your faith journey with. Parents are not to be sponsors for their own children. Please let us know if you need help finding someone to fulfill this role.